"We need to keep making our streets safer and our criminal justice system fairer - our homeland more secure, our world more peaceful and sustainable for the next generation"

- Barack Obama

Concept:

Incarceration has increased by more than 500% in the last 40 years with 2.2 million people in prison or jail in the United States today. Since a peak in 1992, violent crime in the U.S. has decreased from about 750 offenses per 100,000 people to around 400 offenses per 100,000. More than half of federal inmates are nonviolent drug offenders, and 35% of drug offenders in federal prison had either no or minimal criminal history (lowest criminal history category) at sentencing. Using these statistics, the criminal justice system can be reformed through a smart and safe approach, reducing the incarcerated population and changing those laws which led to such a rise in prison population. 2015 U.S. Department of Justice Special Report can be found HERE.

Strategy:

After reviewing the Bipartisan Summit on Criminal Justice Reform as well as recent legislation being proposed, a list of congressional leaders in support and opposition can be derived. The bipartisan support is extensive and the reform bill is expected to go before Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Efforts will be made by Concepts Forward to ensure Mitch McConnell is aware of the support for this bill. This bill has been co-sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL).

Opposition to Criminal Justice Reform has come from Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Ted Cruz (R-TX). Sen. Cruz is up for re-election in 2018 and Sen. Cotton in 2021.

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